Nasketucket Bay State Reservation
Massachusetts

Nasketucket Bay State Reservation

Available Activities
  • Hiking
  • Photography

๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ† Buzzards Bay Cove โ€” Scenic reservation on Nasketucket Bay overlooking Buzzards Bay and the Elizabeth Islands

Nasketucket Bay State Reservation protects a scenic peninsula overlooking Nasketucket Bay on Buzzards Bay in Fairhaven. The reservation offers coastal walking trails with views of the Elizabeth Islands and New Bedford Harbor. Fairhaven was the home of Henry Huttleston Rogers, one of the Standard Oil “robber barons” who built the town’s elaborate public buildings as gifts โ€” including the library, town hall, and Unitarian church.

Visitor Information

DetailInformation
LocationFairhaven, Bristol County, MA
Entry FeeFree
ViewsElizabeth Islands, Buzzards Bay

About Nasketucket Bay

Nasketucket Bay State Reservation in Mattapoisett protects 210 acres of coastal upland and salt marsh on Buzzards Bay. The reservation offers walking trails through diverse habitats โ€” from mixed pine-oak forest to salt marsh โ€” with views across Nasketucket Bay to Mattapoisett Harbor. The area was historically Wampanoag territory.

Things to Do

Hiking the trail network through forest and salt marsh, birdwatching (osprey, herons, shorebirds), enjoying Buzzards Bay views, and wildlife photography. The coastal setting is peaceful and less crowded than Cape Cod.

About Nasketucket Bay

Nasketucket Bay State Reservation in Fairhaven preserves 209 acres of salt marsh, forest, and shoreline on Buzzards Bay โ€” the warm-water bay between Cape Cod and the South Coast. Fairhaven was the home port of Captain Joshua Slocum, the first person to single-handedly sail around the world (1895-1898). Buzzards Bay’s warm waters support horseshoe crabs, osprey, and the northernmost populations of diamondback terrapins.

Things to Do

Hiking the shoreline trails, birdwatching for ospreys and shorebirds, fishing, kayaking Buzzards Bay, observing salt marsh ecology, and exploring Captain Slocum’s home port.

๐ŸŒŠ Visit Nasketucket Bay SR

Buzzards Bay views โ€” coastal walks overlooking the Elizabeth Islands.

๐Ÿ“ MA DCR

Sarah Mitchell

About the Author

Outdoor Editor & Trail Expert

Sarah Mitchell is an outdoor writer and trail researcher with over 8 years of experience exploring state parks across America. As the lead editor at AmericasStateParks.org, she has personally visited more than 200 parks in 42 states, logging thousands of trail miles and hundreds of campground nights. Sarah specializes in detailed park guides, accessibility information, and family-friendly outdoor planning. Her work focuses on helping first-time visitors feel confident and well-prepared for their state park adventures.

200+ state parks visited across 42 states | 8+ years of outdoor writing

Last updated: May 10, 2026

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